The Romantic on The Romance Reviews

Saturday, January 26, 2013

King Priam walked along the terraces overlooking the
palace. He watched the fires, tiny in the distance throughout the city below, on the braziers that warmed the homes of his people, and the posts of
the night watch. They flickered against the darkness like orange eyes that glared
at him accusingly. Alcathous, his priest, walked beside him, saying nothing,
but thought of Apollo and hoped that his sacrifice would appease the Sun god.

Priam
led an entourage of priests and soldiers, into the king’s council
chambers when they heard voices.

“You would betray your
family, and leave your sister vulnerable to the dangers beyond the walls of
Troy for the daughter of a priest?” Said Deiphobus.

“I would die for Cressida!”
Said Troylus.

When King Priam’s sons
came into full view, they stood near the seat of the king at the far end of the
pool in the center of the chamber. Stone seats lined the pool on either side,
and pillars towered behind the seats. A large window behind the king’s seat provided
a direct view of the Aegean Sea, and the moon swayed lazily on the dark surface
of the water.

“This is madness!” Said
Deiphobus.

“Madness is love.” Said
Priam as he placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Come, Deiphobus, sit. We must
talk.”

“What is there to discuss,
father, when Troylus refuses to divulge anything.”

“Troylus is not our only
source of information.” Said King Priam as he motioned a man to step forward.
“This is Gordias of Phrygia, and he comes bearing news of Cassandra’s
whereabouts.”

Gordias stepped forward,
and identified himself as a member of Coroebus’ personal guard. When Troylus
asked him why he had abandoned his master’s side, the Phrygian explained that
Coroebus granted his men the option of returning to their homes, because he
would not order them to embark on the perilous quest he had undertaken.

“ Cassandra’s journey to
Mount Ida had not been a dangerous journey.” Said Troylus.

“Perhaps it had not been
when she left, but I assure you that the circumstances have changed.” Said
Gordias.

“Speak freely, Gordias.
You are among friends.” Said Deiphobus.

Gordias recounted that
Coroebus had led his men on a patrol of his father’s land when they picked up
Cassandra’s trail. They had followed her, the priest, and a young woman to the
banks of the Sakarya River where they revealed themselves to the small caravan,
and inquired about their travels.

“She spoke of an imminent
attack on Troy, but that no one would heed her warning.” Said Gordias. “And so
it became imperative that she journey to Mount Ida to call upon the Mother
Goddess for help.”

“Help with what?” Said
Alcathous. “There has been no mention of war. Not from our spies or the
emissaries of neighboring lands. And even if war is on the horizon, no mortal
can challenge the will of the gods.”

“That is just it!” Said
Gordias. “Cassandra intends to undermine the will of Aphrodite.”

A low rumble of
conversations resonated among the soldiers and priests in the chamber. King
Priam and Deiphobus exchanged furtive glances and then turned to Troylus, who
remained silent.

“Did you know of this?”
Said King Priam.

“No, father, I did not. I
merely provided her with the horses. She had made no mention of her intentions,
and I did not ask.”

“Our sister dares to venture
beyond the walls of Troy, beyond our protection, and you don’t bother to
inquire about her intent?” Said Deiphobus.

“What’s done is done.”
Said Priam. “The important thing is that we find Cassandra, and have her safely
returned to Troy.”

“Forgive my candor,
father, but that is easier said than done.” Said Deiphobus. “She may have left
Mount Ida by now, and we have no insight about where she is head to next.”

“A task that will prove
most difficult, indeed.” Said an unfamiliar voice. “However, on this matter
that is important to us both, I may have news that will work to your
advantage.”

The men turned to the
stranger. They parted to let him pass, and he approached King Priam. Troylus
eyed him suspiciously, but by his attire and stature knew the man was royalty.
His shaggy head of dark hair fell over his brow, and set in his stern face a
pair of keen grey eyes.

“Othronus!” Said Priam. “I
wondered when you would arrive.”

Othronus bowed before the
king and then stood and faced Deiphobus. “It is an honor to meet you. I have
heard many great things about your prowess on the battlefield. You are almost
as renown as your brother, Hector.”

Deiphobus nodded, and
asked him what he knew about Cassandra. Othronus revealed that messengers, and
merchants from Phrygia had brought word to his father about a Princess of Troy
traveling on horseback through the region. When he had heard that it was
Cassandra, he asked his father to permit him to leave for Troy to assist in
locating the princess, and to ask for her hand in marriage.

Troylus stood from his
seat, astonished, but Priam spoke before he could protest. The men remained
silent as the king drew himself up; strong in stature under the blue robes that
matched his eyes, and his strong jaw evident beneath his well-groomed white
beard. Despite his age he exuded confidence, but regardless of his poise, his
face was grave.

“We find ourselves at a
crossroads. We know the inevitable, yet we are powerless to prevent it. No city
has ever faced greater peril, and will be destined to suffer a more notorious
damnation than Troy.” Said King Priam.

He forgave Troylus for his
part in aiding Cassandra’s escape, and asked forgiveness of Deiphobus for
withholding the truth. He confessed that he knew all along about Paris’
intentions, and that Cassandra’s prophecies were not tirades of lunacy, but had
in fact been the will of the gods.

“I have gathered you here,
for here your questions will be answered.” Said the king. “It is now many years
ago that a shadow of doom fell upon Troy. Whence it loomed we did not at first
perceive. Warnings had been whispered, but ignored, and when the memory of the
betrayals had faded beyond recollection we reveled in the greater wealth and
splendor for which Troy is famous.”

Priam sighed. “Troy! Troy!
The high walls, and vast riches! Vanity blinded our faults, and the gods now
seek their revenge. Long has it been since the walls had been erected. But now,
that which had been foretold by Apollo shall come to fruition. And in immense
perdition the fate of our lineage is ordained to fall.”

“Father, what are you
saying?” Said Deiphobus.

Then all listened as the
king spoke of the gods, and the heroes, and the legend of how the walls of Troy
would rise and fall. A part of his tale began in a distant land long ago, when
Zeus fell in love with a maiden, and Hera’s jealousy caused a pestilence that
decimated a population.

The maiden, Aegina, had
been the daughter of the river-god, Asopus, and she bore Zeus a son. But when
Hera learned of the impending birth, she sought to punish Aegina, and Zeus
carried her off to the island called Eenoni that had not yet been inhabited,
but afterwards came to be known as Aegina.

Then through the years
that followed, Aeacus emerged as king; but since that history was recounted
elsewhere, it was not recalled by Priam. For it was a long tale, full of deeds
commendable and disastrous, and only briefly did Priam speak of the latter.

Of Hera, he spoke, her
jealousy and wrath, and the retribution she inflicted by sending a plague, and
a fearful dragon out of the depths of the sea. Aeacus knew that Hera remained
bitter about Zeus’ love affair with Aegina, and devastated the land that bore
her name. For more than a season the pestilence ravaged the island until all
but Aeacus and his son Telamon had perished.

Thereupon Priam paused a
while and sighed. “Generations of mortals are cursed to suffer terribly at the
hands of the gods; for the actions of the gods echo through eternity like
ripples in a pond that reach to distant shores.”

And so it came to pass
that Aeacus stood before the altar of Zeus with his hands and eyes raised to
the heavens in a tearful plea. He begged the god of gods to remember that he
was his son, and when Aeacus saw a colony of busy ants he requested that Zeus
replenish his land with people as numerous and hardworking as they. Finally, he
appealed to Zeus in the name of Aegina, the mortal woman he loved most, and
adjured him to deliver him from his plight.

Aeacus collapsed, and
guided by his tears and broken breaths fell into a deep slumber, where he
remained until a clap of thunder roused him the next morning. His son Telamon
approached through the gates of the temple with a multitude of men on his
heels, and Aeacus knew that Zeus had answered his call. He gazed with wonder
and delight as the men approached, their armor the same color as the ants, and
they knelt before Aeacus and hailed him as their king.

“Aeacus named them
Myrmidons, after the ant—myrmex—from which they had sprung.” Said King Priam.

“Myrmidons? As in—“ Said
Deiphobus.

“Yes, the very same.” Said
Priam.

The men shifted in their
seats, unusually quiet, and their faces grim. They had heard legends of the
Myrmidons, the fiercest warriors in all of Greece with their unwavering loyalty,
and unrivaled brutality.

At this the stranger,
Othronus, broke in. “So this is what you fear, the Myrmidons!” He stood, and
said, “If ever such a force dared to storm the walls of my city they would be
met with a formidable military puissance as to drive them into the sea! And
rest assured King Priam that should the day ever come that the Greeks arrive at
your shores to make war, we will come to your aid.”

“I commend your bravery,
and appreciate your pledge Othronus, but it is not merely the Myrmidons that
concern me.” Said Priam. “For it is their link to Aeacus, and his descendents
that dooms our destiny.”

“Forgive my interruption.
Please continue.” Said Othronus, and he sat and listened.

Over the years, Aeacus had
been renowned for his just and pious nature; both mortals and gods often turned
to him to settle their disputes. Such a favorite was he of the gods that Apollo
and Poseidon enlisted him as their assistant in building the walls of Troy.

Each built a separate
section of the walls, and when they completed their task they ascended to Mount
Olympus where they feasted on ambrosia and nectar. Aeacus, however, had been
given wine and slept among the clouds where he dreamt of three dragons that
rushed the walls of Troy.

The walls built by
Poseidon and Apollo withstood the charge of the first two dragons, but when the
third dragon rushed the part of the walls built by Aeacus it had collapsed.
Aeacus woke with a start and conveyed his dream to the gods. It was then that
Apollo prophesized that Troy’s collapse would come at the hands of Aeacus’
descendants.

And so it came to pass
that Aeacus and his wife, Endeïs,
daughter of the Kentaur Chiron had two sons, Peleus and Telamon. Peleus married
Thetis, and it was at their wedding banquet that the dispute between the goddesses:
Hera, Athena and Aphrodite had originated. Their son Achilles, the notorious
warrior trained by Chiron later emerged as the leader of the Myrmidons. Whereas
Telamon fathered Ajax the Great, and Teucer with the Trojan princess kidnapped
a generation before.

“What?”
Deiphobus and Troylus said incredulously.

A
thunderous silence resonated within the chamber, and all turned their eyes on
Priam. He felt a sudden shame and fear; and he felt a great reluctance to
reveal the truth that he had kept hidden for several decades.

“The
arrogance and jealousy of the gods has bestowed a malediction on the sons of
Troy to pay for the sins of our fathers. Even my progeny shall suffer at the
expense of my faults.” Said Priam.

The king’s eyes glinted as
he gazed upon his sons. When Poseidon and Apollo returned to Troy to be
compensated for the building of the high walls, King Laomedon cheated them, and
refused to pay. Angered, Apollo sent a plague, and Poseidon sent a sea serpent
to exact their revenge.

Laomedon turned to the
Oracles, and they promised him that Troy would be spared if he exposed his
daughter, Hesione, on the shores of the Aegean to be devoured by the sea
monster. The king agreed, and fastened her naked body on the rocks near the
sea.

But before the sacrifice
had taken place, the hero Hercules happened to arrive with his friend Telamon
from their expedition against the Amazons. Hercules agreed to rescue Hesione in
exchange for the horses that had been given to the Trojan king’s grandfather by
Zeus, but when Hercules had slain the monster, Laomedon again went back on his
word.

Hercules attacked the
city, killed Laomedon, slaughtered all of his sons, except the youngest—Priam—who
had been absent during the siege, and gave the maiden to Telamon whom he took
as his wife.

When Priam returned, and
learned of the abduction, he sent his advisors, Antenor and Anchises of
Dardania to demand her return, but they were refused and driven away.

“I failed my sister when I
neglected to embark on a campaign to retrieve her from the clutches of the
Greeks. I will not permit my daughter to suffer a similar fate.”

Priam fell silent, and
gazed out at the sea where the reflection of the moon goddess glowed. He prayed
that she watched over Cassandra, his blue-eyed daughter with hair as fiery as
her personality. He signed.

“The men of Troy, and its
allies, are valiant men.” Said Deiphobus. “We will never submit to the Greeks,
nor will we be defeated by them!”

“My concern at this time
is not war, my son. We will stand against the Greeks when the time comes. My
priority is your sister. She must be found, and brought back before a war
arrives on our shores.”

“And what will become of
Hector, and Paris?” Said Troylus.

“Their fate is beyond our
control. But we have until their return to secure Cassandra. If she remains
abroad when Hector and Paris return, then she will be as exposed as my sister
had been when my father was king.”

Othronus looked at them
doubtfully, and he bowed his head. “So be it.” He stood. “Then we must trust to
such weapons, and the armies that we have. And at the least appeal to the gods
with whom we still have good favor. Until then, we shall make finding Cassandra
our priority, and pray we return before Hector and Paris.”

“Who will go?” Said
Gordias. “For though Phrygia would come to the aid of Troy in war, we do not
dare to challenge Aphrodite.”

“May the day not arrive
too soon,” Said Deiphobus. “Though it is comforting to know that our allies
will fight with all the means they have when the time comes.”

“Then be comforted now,
prince of Troy, that I represent Kavissos, and lend my hand to search for
Cassandra as well as to fight at your side.” Said Othronus.

“But what would happen if
the Greeks arrive at our shores, and the search party has not returned?”
Alcathous asked.

“We know not for certain.”
Said Priam. “Yet we must be willing to endure this chance, as we cannot allow
harm to befall Cassandra.”

“And who are they to be,
the ones charged with finding Cassandra?” Alcathous asked.

“That seems to me what
this council has to decide, and all that it has to decide.” Said King Priam.

“I will search for my
sister,” said Deiphobus, “though I cannot bear this burden alone.”

“I will accompany you,
brother, for it was by my involvement that she fled the city.” Said Troylus.

“Three mortals risk the
wrath of a vengeful goddess to search for one woman with little chance of
success, and the fate of Troy hangs in the balance? Quite the conundrum we find
ourselves in, eh?” Said Othronus. “What are we waiting for?”

Saturday, January 12, 2013

When they arrived at the entrance to the shrine on
Mount Ida, the sun had lingered behind the mountains, and the shadows had
deepened in the woods. Cassandra wondered if the Mother Goddess would accept
her offering. Then she looked at Eenoni leading the way, and felt sympathy for
the heartache she had endured. How could my
brother have turned his back on the unconditional love of a devoted and
beautiful lover? Then Cassandra remembered how she had rejected the
affections of Apollo.

They
followed Eenoni into the darkness of the cave, and within minutes they appeared
before a statue of the Mother Goddess. She towered over them, and the vibrant
lifelike colors in which She had been painted glowed against the fires that
crackled in the braziers.

Calchas
approached, and beckoned Arisbe as he knelt before the goddess. The servant
stooped beside the priest and handed him the pouch she carried. From it, he
gathered herbs and other contents that were unknown to Cassandra and Coroebus,
and they watched as he cast the contents into the brazier that sat in the
center of the cave.

Soon,
they gathered and squatted around the fire. They watched as the herbs blazed
up, then smoldered and flung out thick white clouds of aromatic smoke. Eenoni
whispered unintelligibly as the priest urged Cassandra to inhale deeply, and
focus her thoughts. The dry, sweet scent filled Cassandra’s nostrils, and she
felt her head sway as the heat from the fire intensified.

Cassandra
opened her eyes, and saw the flames flicker with strange colors as they cast
long dancing silhouettes against the jagged walls of the cave. Her companions
faded into the soft shadows, and even the statue of the Mother Goddess had
disappeared.

The
darkness deepened. Cassandra’s sight had been stolen, but she did not panic.
There came the soft sound of footsteps and the rustle of robes that betrayed
the stealth among the shadows. She felt an unfamiliar presence, but felt safe
when a gentle voice echoed from the darkness.

“You
have traveled at great peril to your safety, Cassandra. Even I cannot shelter
you from the dangers you will face.” Said the Mother Goddess.

“Then
you know why I am here?” Said Cassandra.

“I
know the reasons why you have come, but I fear that what you seek is beyond the
scope of my power.”

“Then
how may I save my people?” Said Cassandra. “You are Hera, the Mother Goddess of
my mother’s people. Would you turn away a daughter of Queen Hecuba?”

“It is not you that I
deny, dear child, but it was your brother’s judgment that has caused you this
grief.”

“What if I were to reveal
a truth that has been hidden from you?” Said Cassandra.

“I am a goddess. There is
nothing that remains hidden from me.” Said Hera.

“Then you know the truth
about Helen of Sparta.”

“The one that is rumored
to be as lovely as a goddess?” Said Hera.

“They say she is even
lovelier than Aphrodite.” Said Cassandra.

“Do not insult me, child.”
Hera warned. “Now, what is it that you wish to divulge?”

“It has been widely known
that she is the daughter of Leda, the daughter of King Thestius, but the truth
about her father has been kept secret by a divine veil to protect Leda from
your wrath.” Said Cassandra.

“What secret?” Hera
insisted.

Cassandra lowered her
head, opened her thoughts, and revealed a vision to the Mother Goddess that
Hecuba had shared with her.

They watched as Leda had
risen from her bed, where her husband, King Tyndareus slept undisturbed. As
usual after their intimacy, he had fallen into a deep slumber; he took no
notice of her movements when she left the bed.

She threw a light article
of clothing over her shoulders, and wandered out into the courtyard to gaze
upon the stars. She looked to the heavens for a sign of her destiny, but only a
thunderous silence echoed. A dark blanket stretched from horizon to horizon,
and the stars twinkled like diamonds set by divine order when distant rumbling pierced
the calm.

A gentle breeze caressed
Leda; she watched as rolling clouds gathered and lightning flickered behind
them. She felt the approach of a numinous entity, and waited for her fate to
change.

A strange shiver washed
over her when she felt the presence of a man standing behind her. At first, she
thought it was her husband, King Tyndareus, until she felt the unfamiliar hands
rest on her shoulders. He massaged her upper back, and caressed her arms as his
lips gently kissed the back of her neck. Leda felt his breath in her ear when
he whispered a secret and then teased her earlobe with his tongue.

Her knees wavered; but
Zeus embraced her, so that she could feel his manhood throbbing behind her as
he splayed his hands against her flesh so that his fingers brushed her nipples
and desire scorched her. He made her face him, and he bent his head down to
capture her lips with his.

Leda worried that her
husband would wake and accuse her of infidelity, but somehow she knew that she
wasn’t being unfaithful. She looked into the eyes of the stranger, and they
were unlike any she had ever seen. Lightning flickered within them, and they
swirled with a hint of silver when he smiled and gently kissed her again.

He grasped her tunic,
along her hips, and his hands slid up along her waist to expose her secrets and
caress her lightly between her legs. He lifted her and she wrapped her legs
around his hips; a swift movement and she was open, throbbing and eager. Then
Zeus was inside of her, and the lightning flickered above them, and the
rumbling of thunder shook the Earth with the deep pounding rhythms of his
touch.

“Enough!” Said Hera.

Cassandra sat in silence
as the Mother Goddess contemplated the revelation.

“So, Helen of Sparta is
the progeny of Zeus, and a mortal woman.” Said Hera. “And what punishment would
you have me bestow on Helen?”

“None.” Said Cassandra.

“None?” Said Hera. “And
why not?”

“Because none of this is
Helen’s fault.” Said Cassandra.

“Ah, but that is where you
are mistaken, dear child. For if Helen had never been born, then perhaps the
lords of Greece would have never agreed to an alliance, because she would have
never married Menelaus, and your brother would not have a prize to claim.”

“The Fates determine those
outcomes.” Said Cassandra.

“If you do not want me to
punish Helen, then why are you here?”

“Helen is not at fault for
the actions of Zeus. Nor is Leda.” Said Cassandra.

“Leda knew with whom she
was consorting, and she knew that I was his wife when she engaged in the act to
betray me!”

“She fell victim to the
seduction of Zeus. How could she, a mortal woman, possibly resist a god?” Said
Cassandra.

“You did.” Said Hera.

Cassandra paused, and
remembered Apollo, the son of Zeus, who professed his love for her, and even
though she felt compelled to accept him into her heart, she turned him away.

“That
is why I am here.” Said Cassandra.

Hera
remained silent.

“Apollo
came to me and when he fell in love with me, he granted me the gift of
prophecy. I did not ask for it, I did not want it, but he bestowed it upon me
regardless of my reluctance. Later, when I confessed that I could not
reciprocate his love, he grew furious, and cursed me. He said that since a god
may not reclaim a gift, then he had no choice but to allow me to retain the
power of foresight, however no one would ever believe me.”

Hera
knelt before Cassandra. And while she pitied the Trojan Princess, she seethed
with jealousy at the mention of Apollo. She recalled her fury against Leto,
daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe, when her hidden beauty caught Zeus’
attention, and he seduced her in secret. Hera made every effort to prevent Leto
from giving birth to her twins, Artemis and Apollo, and though she was
powerless to prevent their births she had been determined to make Leto suffer.

Now,
she felt disquieted at the prospect that two of Zeus’ progeny, from his illicit
affairs, were involved with the troubling events that threatened the fragile
peace between Sparta and Troy.

“I
still do not see how I may be able to help?” Said Hera. “I cannot undo what
Apollo has done, and even though I sympathize with your predicament, I am not
inclined to prevent Paris from igniting a war.”

“But
you are the Goddess of Marriage!” Pled Cassandra. “It is your duty to preserve
the marriage of Helen and Menelaus. Even against the will of Aphrodite, and the
desire of my brother.”

“Do
not speak to me about my duty, child!” Said Hera. “Besides, I have no bond with
Helen that compels me to preserve her honor, and save her marriage. Not since
she sought counsel when the many suitors had gone to Sparta for her hand in
marriage, has she pled for my assistance.”

Cassandra
felt a tear race along her cheek.

“No.
I cannot help, and I will not interfere with the inevitable.” Said Hera. “Unless
you have another request—“

“I
do!” Said Cassandra.

Hera
waited.

“I
wish to find Nyx, the Goddess of Night. Do you know how I may find her?”

Hera
contemplated Cassandra’s request. “You are relentless, aren’t you? Tell me.
What do you hope you will accomplish by finding Nyx?”

“Nyx
is the mother of the Fates.” Said Cassandra.

“And?”
Hera said dismissively.

“As
the mother of the Fates, it is my intention to enlist her assistance with her
daughter, Clotho.”

“I’m
curious, dear child. How do you intend to procure the benevolence of the Fates?
They answer to no one, and are bound by their nature to ensure that everyone’s
destiny is fulfilled.”

“I
will ask Clotho, who is responsible for controlling the major decisions in
one’s life, to allow me to fall in love with Apollo.” Said Cassandra. “Perhaps
then he may be compelled to lift the curse, and my people will heed my warnings
and prepare for the war.”

“I
have no other option.” Said Cassandra. “I cannot ask Aphrodite, because I’m
certain she wishes to fulfill her promise to Paris. I cannot turn to her son,
Eros the god of love and desire, because his loyalty lies with her. I cannot
stand by and do nothing. I must take this chance, regardless of the risk to my
personal safety.”

Hera
pondered Cassandra’s predicament and instructed the mortal princess to look
upon her.

Cassandra
opened her eyes, but still she could not see through the windows of her soul. Instead,
she saw with the eye of her mind, and felt rather than saw, a luminous shadow
rise before her. The radiance overwhelmed her consciousness, and it did her no
good to shield her eyes with her hands.

“You
are not seeing me with your eyes, Cassandra, for it is not possible to look
upon an Immortal in her or his true form.” Said Hera.

“Then
what is it that blinds me?” Said Cassandra.

Soon
there could be no doubt; Cassandra knew, the thought had been relayed as a
whisper to her mind that only her soul could stand in the presence of a goddess
in her true form. So incandescent was She that She imparted the impression of
standing before the sun, and illuminated even the gloom that surrounded them.

And
when the veil of darkness had been shoved aside by Hera’s effulgent presence, Cassandra
felt at peace. Hera motioned Cassandra to stand and the Mother Goddess admired
the young mortal woman known as the second most beautiful woman in the world.
Hera gazed into Cassandra’s bright blue eyes and apperceived her intelligent,
charming, elegant and gentle nature. But beyond that, Hera recognized
Cassandra’s determination, and decided to help in the only way her divine
arrogance would permit.

“Zeus
does not yet know about your journey.” Said Hera. “He may soon learn that you
came to me, and the dangers that lie ahead will magnify.”

Cassandra
remained silent.

“Do
you not see what is happening, dear
child? These events are for gods and mortals alike the footsteps of doom. For
if you fail, then Troy will fall. Yet if you succeed, then the power of the
gods will be diminished, and it will not only be the end of the Age of Heroes,
but it will be the end of the reign of the gods. And the tides of time shall
sweep us away from the hearts and minds of mortals, slowly to be ignored and
forgotten.”

Hera
leaned forward and gently kissed Cassandra’s crown, and unexpectedly the
princess knew where her voyage would lead to next. A great light illuminated
the cave then vanished and left all else dark, save for the small fires burning
in the braziers. Cassandra stood before the statue of the Mother Goddess, gazing
upon her lifelike image with wonder; for suddenly it seemed to her that she
understood why the gods appeared in disguise.

Her
companions rose to their feet and hurriedly approached her. At length they
explained that when she fell into a trance, an unseen force shoved them back
before a mystical veil cascaded around her and the statue of Hera.

“We
heard everything, but we could not see either of you!” Said Eenoni.

“I
feared for your safety, my lady.” Said Arisbe.

“By
gods, I have never experienced anything so terrifyingly glorious!” Calchas
interjected.

Cassandra
turned to Coroebus. He stood rooted, unable to withdraw his gaze. Cassandra
searched his eyes and he searched hers, for they both knew with absolute
certainty and terror that to achieve her objective, she would sacrifice her
heart for a love she did not want, and as a consequence, he would have to do
the same.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Sunlight fell between the pillars of Troy, and the
servants shrank into the shadows of the corridors when they heard the
thunderous roar of King Priam from his chambers. His fury could be felt
throughout the palace when he learned of Cassandra’s escape, and though he
believed that Queen Hecuba aided their daughter, he could provide no evidence
to substantiate his suspicions.

“Didn’t
I tell you to not encourage her
creative notions?” Said Priam.

“She
was just a child when she first talked to us about the scrying-bowl and
prophecies.” Said Queen Hecuba.

“And
now look at what your coddling has produced. She thinks herself a prophetess,
and has ventured beyond the city walls, beyond my protection!” Said King Priam.
“You women do nothing but undermine the rule of a man in his own house!”

Queen
Hecuba stepped forward with a glint of rage in her eyes.

“Be
mindful of your tone with me.” Said Queen Hecuba. “I am the mother of your
children, Queen of Troy, and the eldest daughter of the Horse lords of the Open
Lands. I have raised our children to exceed the standards set forth by previous
generations, and I will not permit you to question my methods, nor my
judgment.”

“Be
that as it may,” said King Priam. “Cassandra is missing. Deiphobus has been
unable to procure the whereabouts of Cassandra and Troylus from Cressida, and
Calchas is nowhere to be found.”

“How
are Calchas and his daughter involved?” Said Queen Hecuba.

“That
remains unclear—“ said Priam, when a member of his personal guard knocked on
the door to the private chamber.

The
King of Troy pulled the door open. Despite his fifty years of age, he remained
an imposing presence even without his armor, with long white hair and a neatly
maintained curly white beard. His bright blue eyes demanded to know what
warranted the interruption.

“My
lord, there is an emissary from Phrygia. He bears news of Cassandra.”

King
Priam instructed the soldier to escort the emissary to his reception room.
Moments later, the King entered the reception chamber, followed closely by
Queen Hecuba. The Phrygian messenger bowed before him, and announced himself as
Gordias, son of Adrastus.

In the dark corridors beneath the palace, Troylus
arrived at the dungeon where Cressida had been held captive. At his behest, the
guards lifted the heavy bars of the doors. They swung open slowly grumbling on their
hinges, and Troylus darted across the threshold to embrace the woman he loved.

“Did
my brother harm you?” He asked. His eyes searched hers for any sign of pain. It
was dark and cold in the chamber, and she shivered in his arms.

“No,
he did not hurt me.” Said Cressida. She avoided his gaze, and stared absently
at the ground. You left me to face the
humiliation of imprisonment alone, and then waited another day to free me while
you slept in the comfort of your bed.

“Come,
we must leave immediately.” Troylus whispered.

He
cast a sideways glance at the guards. They watched him, but remained unaware
that King Priam and Prince Deiphobus searched for him to question him about
Cassandra’s escape.

“Where
are you taking me?” Cressida asked.

Troylus
did not answer. He helped her stand and they walked out into the long corridor,
filled with shadows and the dancing glow of half lights from the few torches
that lined the walls. The low ceiling gave the impression that it would
collapse and trap them forever if they did not hurry, and reminded Troylus of
his father’s wrath.

Behind
them, the cell doors shut, and echoed throughout the corridor as Troylus
escorted Cressida through the darkness. He hoped that his cousin, Briseis,
would be waiting for them when they emerged from the lower levels of the
palace. She had provided him with a place to hide for the night, and though the
accommodations had not been suitable for a prince, he endured the discomfort
for Cressida.

Again,
Cressida asked the prince where he was taking her, but he ignored her request
and led her up a flight of stairs. She stopped, midflight, and demanded to know
his intentions.

“There
is no time for this!” Said Troylus. “My brother may return to question you
again, and if he captures us both—“

“Oh,
you mean, the way he would have captured us both in my father’s home?” Said
Cressida.

“That
is not fair.” Said Troylus. “You know that if I had been found in your home,
alone with you, the scandal would have been worse for you than for me.”

“It
would have been bad for you?” Said Cressida. “Is that because you are a prince
of Troy, and I am merely the lowly daughter of a priest?”

“No,
my love. It would not have been bad for me at all. You know that I care not
about what others might say about me, and I don’t think in terms of status.”
Said Troylus. “I only evaded capture for two reasons. First, I could not bear
to think about the gossip that would spread about you, to have been found alone
in your home with me. Second, I promised my mother that I would ensure
Cassandra’s safety and escape from the city.”

“So,
your mother and her wishes matter more than me?” Said Cressida.

“Nothing
matters more than you, my love.” Said Troylus. “By being here, I risk the wrath
of my father, so I am begging you to trust me. Now please, let us make haste
before my brother returns.”

“Why
do you fear your brother’s return?” Said Cressida.

“He
cannot learn of Cassandra’s whereabouts.” Said Troylus.

“And
why not?” She asked.

“Yes,
brother, why am I not privy to our sister’s intentions?”

Troylus
and Cressida turned to see Deiphobus descending the flight of stairs with a
group of guards behind him. Troylus took hold of Cressida’s wrist and led her
down the steps. Deiphobus and his men gave chase as the lovers fled through the
darkened corridors, and vanished into the shadows.

The sun had reached the highest point in the sky
when Cassandra, Coroebus, Calchas, and Arisbe arrived at the foothills of Mount
Ida. Light clouds circled the mountain, and obscured the apex where the shrine
of the Mother Goddess had been since time immemorial.

As
they climbed, each pondered their individual concerns: Coroebus kept a watchful
eye over the terrain, because he had heard of the creatures that lurked about;
whereas Calchas wondered if the risk he took was worth the reward he had been
promised. Arisbe clung to Cassandra as they rode on horseback, and hoped that
Queen Hecuba would shield her from King Priam’s wrath once he learned of her
involvement.

There
was a long silence. Cassandra turned and glanced in the direction of Troy, far
and distant beyond the horizon. She could not see Troy as it was, but somehow
saw the harbor with her mind’s eye. Emerging on the face of the shimmering sea
were a thousand ships from lands she had only heard about in legend.

They
spread like a dark shadow; the resonance of ominous foreboding loomed over the
fate of the Trojans. Most had white sails with blue markings she did not
recognize, but at the forefront of the fleet soared a small group of boats with
black sails.

An
unfamiliar voice echoed in Cassandra’s ear, and sent shivers along her spine. The first Greek to set foot on Trojan soil
shall be the first to die in the Trojan War.

Cassandra
saw him, Protesilaus, the brave soldier who had heard of the prophecy of
Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi and the priestess at the Temple of Apollo as he
leapt ashore and charged to his destiny. He had once been a suitor of Helen of
Sparta, and though he had later been married to Laodamia, daughter of Acastus,
he was bound by an oath to protect Helen’s honor.

His
comrades revered his courageous actions after he had slain four men before he
fell to the sword of Prince Hector. And as Cassandra witnessed the brutality
inflicted by her elder brother, a shudder ran through her body, and she felt
Laodamia’s heartache. Cassandra saw Protesilaus’ body through the eyes of the
grieving widow, and felt the tears shed by the young woman who had been robbed
of the opportunity to give her husband a lifetime of love.

Cassandra
felt her soul being extracted from the body of Laodamia, but the Trojan
Princess had been permitted by the gods to remain as an autoptic witness when
Hermes returned with Protesilaus from the Underworld. Protesilaus stood before
his deeply mourning wife, and she felt the warmth of his presence when he
embraced her, and apologized for abandoning her in the name of eternal glory.

They
reflected on the fond memories they created in their short time together, but
Laodamia refused to lose him a second time. She would not become a victim of
unrequited love. When Protesilaus returned to the Underworld, she drank hemlock
to kill herself and join him.

“My
lady, what is wrong?” Said Arisbe.

Cassandra
shook her head. She did not answer. She merely wiped the tears from her eyes
and urged her horse to resume their climb.

“My
lady—“

“It
was nothing!” Cassandra lied, for she felt the burden of the war, and through
the gift of prophecy bore witness to the tragedy that would come to pass.

As
they arrived at a clearing on the mountainside, they observed a young woman
standing near a stream. A feeling of uneasiness washed over Cassandra. She
froze and stared at the beautiful woman with long dark hair and green, dovelike
eyes. She wore a long white tunic that billowed about in the breeze.

Coroebus
dismounted from his horse and instructed his companions to keep an eye out for
anything unexpected while he talked with the mysterious woman.

“I
agree.” Said Calchas.

“I
do not.” Said Cassandra, peering at the priest with contemnible eyes asquint.

Coroebus
was taken aback.

Cassandra
glanced at the woman again, and observed her solemn expression. “Despite your
handsome features, I daresay that your presence will not be as welcome as you
might think.”

Coroebus
smirked as Cassandra dismounted her horse. “And what leads you to this
conclusion?”

“You
are a man, Coroebus. You do not recognize a woman who wears the expression of
heartache.” Said Cassandra. “Wait here.”

The
mysterious woman studied Cassandra’s movements as she approached. She observed
Cassandra’s fiery red-hair and bright blue eyes, and noted that they were the
only features she did not share with her brother.

“I
knew you’d come.” She whispered.

Cassandra
froze.

“Do
not be alarmed. I am Eenoni, the first love of your twin brother, Paris.” She
said as she stepped forward.

“First
love? My twin brother?” Said Cassandra.

“Yes,
come. Come, all of you. There is much to tell.” Said Eenoni. Her eyes watered
as she embraced Cassandra.

They
gathered beneath a tree along the riverbank and a comfortable peace washed over
the group, save for Cassandra. Her sapphire-colored eyes were pensive, in a
melancholy way.

Eenoni
handed her a cup of water gathered from the stream. She drank it, but did not
taste like water for it was sweet like nectar and warmed her throat. She gave
each of Cassandra’s companions a cup of the enchanted liquid and they consumed
it with satisfaction, but Coroebus immediately grew suspicious.

“This
is not water.” He said and he leapt to his feet. “Are you a sorceress?”

“I
am no sorceress.” She said softly, seated beside Cassandra.

“Then
what are you?” He demanded.

“I
am a mountain nymph, associated with the Mother Goddess, and daughter of
Cebren, a river-god. My name is Eenoni, and despite what future legends may
claim, I am the first to convert water into wine.”

Coroebus’
brow creased in confusion.

“You
said that you knew I’d come.” Said Cassandra. “How?”

Eenoni
drew a deep breath and pursed her lips. Cassandra studied her soft features,
and searched her enchanting green eyes, because for all their beauty they
reflected inconsolable pain.

“We
share a common gift, Cassandra, but beyond that, it is the fate of one man that
intertwines our destinies.”

“Do
not speak to us in riddles.” Said Coroebus.

Eenoni
ignored the Phrygian prince, and held Cassandra’s gaze.

“You
have seen it too?” Said Cassandra.

Eenoni
nodded.

“Seen
what?” Said Coroebus.

Eenoni
turned to him and said; “I have seen the tragedy of love when gods intervene on
mortal affairs.”

“But
we are servants of the gods,” said Calchas. “We are subject to their will,
regardless of the circumstance or outcome.”

“Will
you believe that when the will of the gods claims the one person whom you
cherish most?” Said Eenoni.

“I
serve the Sun-god, Apollo, and dare not question his—“

“That
is enough, Calchas. I will not hear that name mentioned again.” Said Cassandra.

Coroebus
and Calchas exchanged bewildered glances. Arisbe lowered her head, because she
knew the source of Cassandra’s acrimony.

“I
don’t understand.” Said Coroebus. “What is it that you have seen, and whose
fate binds you to each other?”

Eenoni
leaned forward, handed Coroebus another drink and revealed to the Phrygian
prince, the truth about a prince of Troy. His name, Paris, had been given to
him at birth, when his father ordered him exposed on Mount Ida to prevent a
prophecy from coming to fruition. It had been foretold that he would bring about
the destruction of Troy, and King Priam would not dare tempt the gods by
ignoring their ominous sign.

Paris,
however had been found, and raised by the shepherd, Agelaus, and it had been on
the slopes of Mount Ida where he met and fell in love with the nymph, Eenoni.
During their youth, they frolicked in the mountainside and fell in love, and
when they were sixteen they were wed on the very site where they found Eenoni.

“You
were married to my brother?” Cassandra asked incredulously.

Eenoni
nodded and relayed the events that had transpired, which explained why Paris
had not spoken of his marriage when he returned to Troy. She glanced at Calchas
and made mention of the banquet on Mount Olympus that Zeus had planned as a
ploy for his own objectives.

“What
do you mean, for his own objectives?”
Said Calchas.

Eenoni
reminded the priest that they lived in an era when demigods and mortals were
revered as much as the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus, many of whom were
descendents of Zeus due to his many infidelities.

Zeus
needed a means to eliminate the Heroes without his direct involvement, and he
manipulated the circumstances that led to the inevitable. He threw a
celebration on Mount Olympus to commemorate the wedding of Peleus of Aegina,
and the sea-nymph Thetis, and invited every deity and demigod save for Eris.
Zeus excluded her, because he knew that by her very nature she would ignite a
firestorm of controversy.

Eris,
the goddess of strife, threw the golden Apple of Discord into the party with the
words “Kallisti” –“for the fairest”— inscribed on the surface. An argument
ensued among the goddesses over who had a rightful claim to the apple.

Ultimately,
the choices had been narrowed down to three: Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, and
each refused to relinquish the apple to the other two. When they took their
squabble to Zeus, he made it clear that he did not want to take part in the
decision, but knew one man whose judgment could be trusted.

Paris had a reputation,
even among the gods, for his exquisite taste and appreciation of beauty, and at
the behest of Zeus, Hermes escorted the three to Mount Ida.

They
approached Paris, who waited for Eenoni on the very site where they now sat,
but when she arrived, she could not be seen or heard. Eenoni stood, as if
beyond the boundary of a bubble, and watched as the goddesses disrobed and
allowed him to see them naked.

Paris
still could not decide, as he believed them to be equally, ideally beautiful,
and turned away. He sat with his head in his hands when the goddesses chose to
bribe him with the things that men truly desire most.

Hera
offered him power and the reward of ruthless ambition, lordship over all of
Europe and Asia; Athena offered him glory and wisdom, which would manifest as
skill in battle and grant him renown as the greatest warrior, but these choices
he refused. Paris did not possess the ambition inherent in the heart of a king
of kings, and he did not long for glorious moments on the battlefield. Paris
Alexander, the doomed prince of Troy, had been born a romantic and yearned only
for love.

And
so it came to pass that when Aphrodite offered the love of the most beautiful
woman on Earth, Helen of Sparta, Paris sealed his fate and chose Aphrodite as
the fairest of the goddesses.

“I
am truly sorry.” Said Cassandra.

A
tear fell from Eenoni’s eye, and in her emerald-colored eyes could be seen the
depth of her heartache. She offered Cassandra an appreciative smile filled with
sadness and they embraced in silence.

“What
in the name of the gods are you apologizing for?” Said Coroebus incredulously.

“Don’t
you understand, you jackass?” Said Arisbe.

“No,
I do not. Enlighten me.”

Cassandra
turned to Coroebus without releasing Eenoni. “It isn’t that my brother chose
Aphrodite. What has broken Eenoni’s heart is that Paris chose Helen over her!”

Realization
dawned on Coroebus’ face, and he felt the extent of his idiocy in that instant.

“How
does this correlate with your troubles, Princess Cassandra?” Said Calchas.

Eenoni
clarified that Cassandra had tried, unsuccessfully, to warn her family about
Paris’ voyage to Sparta. Although King Priam and Prince Hector believed that
Paris had merely assumed his role as royalty, they did not know of his
intention to seduce the Spartan queen, which would ultimately lead to war.

Eenoni
then turned to Cassandra and said with conviction. “You must not blame yourself
for what is to come. The events you have foreseen had been set into motion long
before your birth.”

“But
how do you know this?” Said Cassandra.

“Because
I am a nymph, and I can see beyond the boundaries of time in a way that you
cannot.” Said Eenoni.

“Then
it is imperative that I see the Mother Goddess, immediately.” Said Cassandra.

“Did
you not hear what she said?” Calchas interjected. “This war is inevitable!”

“Then
I have another option.” Said Cassandra.

“What
option is that, my lady?” Said Arisbe.

“No
one believes me, because Apollo has punished me with a curse of being thought
mad for not being able to reciprocate his love. Perhaps the Mother Goddess will
be able to help me with this dilemma.”

“Only
Aphrodite or her son, Eros, has the power to influence love.” Said Calchas.
“How do you intend on invoking the aid of the goddess that you wish to
undermine?”

“It
is not Aphrodite whose help I wish to enlist.” Said Cassandra.

She
and Eenoni exchanged a furtive glance.

“We
must take you to the Mother Goddess, now.” Eenoni and Arisbe said
simultaneously.

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Dear Love: Diary of a Man's Desire

About Me

Felix Alexander is a Mexican-born, American-raised novelist, and poet of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent.
Acclaimed by readers for his poetic prose, his indie releases include: Dear Love: Diary of a Man’s Desire, a collection of love letters, and poems; and The Romantic, a novel.
The release, and increasing popularity of his debut novel has earned Felix a growing audience. With the assistance of the Independent Author Network, and GoodReads, his online presence has gradually expanded across social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Authors Database, Google + andTsu.
Being third-generation military, after a grandfather and uncle who served in the Korean War and Vietnam War, respectively, Alexander is proud of his service in the U.S. Army, and grateful for his experience. After his honorable discharge, he embarked on the long and lonely journey of a writer.
Felix writes cozy and gothic mysteries, historical fantasy, MG fantasy, literary and contemporary romance.